BX 
1233 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


Dr.  Colmaris 

SERMON 

ON   THE 

Unfpeakable  Gift. 

February  i.  1735* 


THE  - 

Unfpeakable  Gift  of  GOD; 

A  right 
Charitable  and  ^Bountiful  Spirit 

TO   THE 

Poor  and  Needy  Members 

O  F 

JESUS  CHRIST, 

A 

S  E  R  M  O  N 

Preached  at  the  publick   Letfure  in  Bofton-) 
February  i .  1739. 

By  benjamin  Colmttn,  D.  D. 


.  xxii.  9.  He  that  bath  a  bountiful  Eye  jhall  le 
blejjed)  for  be  giveth  of  his  Bread  to  the  Poor. 
Rom.v.  17.  They  which  receive  Abundance  of  Grace  and 


of  the  Gift  of  Righteoufnefs,  Jhall  reign  in  Life  by 
Jefus  Cbrift. 

BOSTON: 
Printed  by  J.  DRAPER  for  H.  FOSTER  in  Cornlil.  1739. 


;. 


< 


i  A 


! 


THE 


Unfpeakable  Gift, 


II.  CORINTHIANS,  ix.  15. 
Thanks  le  to  GOD  for  bis  unfpeakable  Gift. 


HANKS  is  the  leaf  that  can  be 
rendered  for  any  Gift ;  and  unfpeak- 
able  Thanks  the  leaft  for  a  Gift  that 
is  unfpeakable.  Let  us  confider  the 
particular  Gift  here  fpoken  of,  and 
the  Honour  here  done  it,  the  Glory 
put  upon  it. 


Some  would  have  it  to  mean  CHRIST  Himfelf,  who 
is  indeed  thegreateft  Gift  of  God  to  fallen  Man,  ineffa- 
ble, inconceivable.  John  iv.  10.  If  t ho;*  knewejl  the  Gift 
of  God !  Eph.  iii.  8.  What  is  tie  Height  and  Depth, 
and  Length  and  Bffadth  of  tbe  Love  of  Chrrji,  which 
pajjefh  Knowledge, 

Some  fay  Grace,  the  regenerating  Grace  of  God  ;  or 
(which  is  the  fame)  the  HOLY  SPIRIT  of  God  in  all  his 
favin%  Gifts,  Graces  and  Comforts :  And  indeed  all  the 

fruits 


Ml.80806 


The  Unfpeakable  Gift. 

+  ,  „>„**)/ ike  Spirit  (a)  are  unfpeakable  Gifts,  "  Love, 
Peace,  Joy,  Longfuffering,  Goodnefe,  Meeknefi,  &c.  My 
Context  (b)  fpeaks  of  this  Gift,  "  God  is  able  to  make 
ALL  GRACE  to  abound  to  you,  that  ye  always  having  an 
Mfufficiency  in  all  things,  may  abound  to  every  good  Work . 

But  after  all,  The  Grace  and  the  Gift  by  Grace  here 
fpoken  of,  is  neither  more  nor  lefs  than  the  particular 
Grace  of  Charity  zn&Liberality  to  the  Poor  and  Needy  ; 
an  enlarged  Heart  and  open  Hand  to  relieve  and  fup- 
ply  them  in  their  Wants  and  Neceffities.  —  The 
whole  Chaffer  is  on  this  fingle  Subject  and  Argument, 
touching  Miniftring  to  the  Saints,  v.  r.  as  a  Mafter  of 
Bounty,  v.  5.  f owing  bountifully,  v.  7.  giving  to  the  Poor, 
v,  p-  fupplying  the  Plants  of  Saints,  v.  1 2.  liberal  Di- 
jlribution  to  all  Men  :  This  is  the  exceeding  Grace  and 
unfpeakable  Gift,  for  which  Thanks  is  here  given  to  God . 

And  great  is  the  Honour  and  Glory  done  it,  in  the 
Epithet  UNSPEAKABLE,  and  in  the  THANKSGIVING 
to  God  for  it. 

"  fVoo  can  by  fearching  find  out  GOD,  or  any  Gift  of 
His,  unto  Perfection  ?  Who  cunjhew  forth  all  his  Praije  ? 
All  is  comprehended  in  the  one  Word  LOVE.  Yet 
my  Text  means  not  to  dignify  a  Spirit  of  Liberality  a- 
bovethe  <#/w  Exercifes  of  Grace,  fave  only  as  the  Great- 
eft  of  all  is  Charity  (c),  which  is  but  perfected  at  Death 
antl  abides  for  ever,  when  faith  and  Hope  are  fwallow'd 
up  in  Vifioh.  Neveithelefs  it  muftbe  added,  that  Love 
in  this  particular  Mode  and  Miniftration,  of  which  my 
Text  fpeaks,  \v\\\foonfail  ;  for  there  are  no  Objects  of 
Charity  in  Heaven,  none  poor  or  needy r  there  :  How- 
ever, Benevolence,  the  Soul  and  EJJence  of  Charity,  reigns 
there  in  Glory  for  ever  and  ever. 

Bleffed  be  GOD  that  we  have  fimcthing  and  fo  much 
of  it  on  Earth,  in  our  Way  to  Heaven  :  "  Thanks  to 
Him  for  it,  fays  my  Text.  The  Glory  is  God's,  for  it  is 


(  a  )  Gal.  v.  22.     (  b)  Ver.  8.     (  c  )  i  Cor.  xiii.  13- 

Us 


*fbe  Unfpeakalk  Gift,  3 

••*><'': 
fas  Gift,  8c  this  is  the  Glory  of  the  Gift  that  it  is  Ms ;  this 

makes  it  the  unfpeakable  thing  it  is  :  Divine,  Heavenly, 
Infinite,  in  its  Origine,  Influence  and  endlefs  Effects. 

GOD  is  the  free  and  bountiful  Author  of  this  Grace  in 
any,  He  gives  it  to  Thofe  that  have  it  ;  the  Ability  and 
the  Heart  to  do  kind  and  liberal  Things  is  from  Him  ; 
He  puts  it  into  the  Heart,  and  he  enlarges  it.  "  Even 
Power  to  eat  our  Bread  b  from  Him,  how  much  more 
to  give  of  it  to  others,  to  f even  and  alfo  to  eight  (d). 

The  lileral  Man  is  God's  Gift  to  the  World  ;  to  the 
Place  where  he  lives,  to  diftant  Places  alfo,  if  he  have  a 
Hand  full  *\\&ftrong  eno'  to  fcatter  far  and  near.  Some 
in  the  Churches  of  Macedonia  were  thus  made  to  differ 
and  excel :  God  miniftredym/  to  them  and  they  lowed 
plentifully ;  God  enriched  them  unto  all  Bountiful nefs, 
and  the  'fhankfgiving  was  abundant  to  Gcd. 

The  Praife  is  not  to  the  charitable  Perfon,  who  de* 
•vifes  the  liberal  Things,  but  to  God  who  gives  him  the 
Heart.  The  good  Man  will  be/#r  from  taking  any  of 
the  Praife  to  himfelf,  but  to  God's  Name  he  gives  the 
Glory.  "  It  is  not  in  me^  faid  the  Princely  Jofephy  when 
Pharaoh  asked  him  of  the  unfpeakalle  Gift  he  heard  was 
in  him  ;  "  God Jhall  give  Pharaoh  anAnfwer  of  Peace  (*)  : 
He  honoured  himfelf  the  more  in  the  Sight  of  Pharaoh 
and  his  Princes  by  afluming  nothing  to  himfelf ;  "  Can 
wefindfuch  a  Man  as  this  (faid  the  King)  in  uhom  the 
Spirit  of  God  is  ?  for  as  much  as  God  hath  Jhewedthee 
all  this,  there  is  none  fo  difcreet  and  wife  as  Thou  art. 

We  muft  have  a  great  Care  not  to  idolife  thofe  whom 
God  pleafes  to  honour,  by  facrificing  to  them  inftead  of 
God,  who  alone  is  to  be  worlhip'd.  Yet  the  Man  who 
is  God's  Hand,  and  his  Gift,  comes  in  for  a  civil  Honour 
and  Refpect,  a  grateful  Acknowledgment  of  his  own 
Goodwill  in  mewing  the  KindneJJes  of  God  •  Of  which 
our  Context  is  full,  "  For  to  their  Power  and  beyond 


(.d }  Ecck,  iii,  13.  xi.  2.    (  e )  Gen.  xli.  38. 

they 


4  ¥he  Unfpeakable  Gift. 

«'•  they  were  willing  efthemfelves,  praying  us  to  receive 
"  the  Gift  and  take  on  us  the  fellowfoip  ;  a  Where- 
"  fore  fhew  before  the  Churches  the  Proof  of  your  Love, 
"  and  of  our  boafting  on  your  behalf  ;  for  I  know  the 
"  Forwardness  of  your  Mind,  and  your  Zeal  has  provo- 
"  kedmany:  "  As  it  is  written,  He  has  difpers'd  abroad, 
"  he  has  given  to  the  Poor,  his  Righteoufnefi  endureth 
"  for  ever,  his  Horn  fhall  be  exalted  with  Honour  (f  ) 
"  While  by  the  Experiment  of  this  Miniftration  they 
"  glorify  God  for  your  profeiTed  Subjeffion  to  the  Gof- 
"  pel;  longi?ig  after  you  for  the  exceeding  Grace  of  God 
"  in  you. 

Having  thus  fet  my  Text  in  its  true  and  beft  Light, 
I  lhall  endeavour  to  ipeak  to  this  DocJrine  from  it, 

cc  That  a  right  charitable  and  liberal  Frame  of  Spirit 
to  the  poor  and  needy  is  an  unfpeakablc  Gift  of  God  ;  for 
which  great  Thankfulnefs  is  due  to  his  glorious  Name^  and 
abundant  Thankfgiving  Ihould  be  fervently  render'd  in 
the  Churches  of  the  Saints" 

I  am  therefore  to  fhew, 

r.  What  we  are  to  understand  by  a  right  charitable 
and  liberal  Spiri:  ? 

2.  That  it  is  an  unfpeakalle  Gift  of  God. 

3.  The  abundant  Thank/giving;  to  be  render'd  for  it 
in  the  Churches  of  Ghrijl. 


I.  By  a  right  charitable  and  liberal  Spirit,  I  underftand 
a  Mind  and  Heart  prone  and  large-)  free  and  ready  in 
Proportion  to  our  Ability  and  the  Occafions  occurring  to 
us,  to  pity  and  relieve  the  Wants  of  the  Poor-)  more  e- 
fpecially  of  the  virtuous  and  religious  Poor. 

It  is  the  relfeiotff  Exercife  of  the  Grdce  of  Charity, 
which  we  are  to  preach  to  you  from  the  Go/pel  of  Chrift  < 


(f)  Pfalm  C3fii.  p,  and! 


*fke  VnfpeaJtdble  Gift.  g 

and  my  Context-  confines  me  to  this  Confederation  of  it, 
"  as  the  Grace  cf  God  beftowed  en  the  Churches.,  and  the 
Fellowjhip  ofminiftring  to  the  Saints.  So  that  a  Principle 
of  Grace  in  the  Heart,  and  the  Excrcife  of  it  in  the  Life, 
are  here  fuppofed  ;  That  is  to  fay,  a  giving  to  the  poor 
and  needy  from  faith  in  Chrift  and  his  Word,  from  Love 
to  Him  and  his  People,  upon  the  Commandment  and  Pro- 
mi  ft  s  of  the  Gofpel ;  in  Obedience  to  the  one,  and  Hope 
in  the  other. 

It  is  not  therefore  meerly  a  humane,  tender,  generous 
natural  'Temper,  or  acquired  Difpofition  towards  a  neceffc 
tons  or  compaffionable  Object  ;  and  yet  this  is  a  diftin- 
guiftiing  Gift  of  Providence  to  fome  more  than  others^ 
which  renders  'em  more  lovely  and  of  a  fuperior  Spirit  ; 
but  we  muft'fuppofe  a  Soul  of  this  Difpofition  fantfified, 
and  acting  upon  religious  Principles  and  Motives  ;  or 
one  of  another  Difpofition  changed  by  the  Power  of  Di- 
vine Grace  into  this  ;  and  then  what  rais'd  and  enobled 
Souls  do  the  one  and  other  become  ?  all  their  Things 
'being  done  with  Charity  !  from  a  reigning  Love  to  God 
and  Goodnefs  as  fuch,  as  there  is  Opportunity  unto  a/I 
Men,  but  efpecially  unto  the  Houjhold  cf  Faith,  proving 
their  Love  before  the  Churches. 

In  this  Cafe  a  fpecial  Exercife  of  proper  Evangelical 
Faith  with  Love  is  fuppofed,  as  in  the  Frame  of  Spirit, 
fo  in  the  chofen  Objects,  poor  Saints  and  Members  of 
Jefus  Chrift,  for  His  fake,  and  as  unto  Him,  and  as  He 
will  accept  and  reward  another  t>ay  ;  "  re  did  it  unto 
Me.  This  is  Chrijt  formd  in  us,  his  Spirit  ruling  in  ug, 
a  nsw  Nature  given  to  us,  acting  in  new  Manner,  on 
new  Principles,  Ends  and  Motives  ;  fuch  as  the  meet1' 
iiatural  Ma,n  perceives  not,  in  equal  or  greater  Benefac- 
tions j  a  Sacrifice  holy  and  acceptable  to  God. 

It  is  eafy  to  the  Power  of  God  and  worthy  of  his  Merrfj 
jo  to  change  the1  Heart  of  the  natural \y  Niggard  &  grudg- 
ing, into  this  Riches  of  Benignity  and  Beneficence, 
whereof  there  feem  to  have  been  many  Inflances  in  the 
firfl  Days  of  the  Gofpel,  upon  the  pouring  out  of  the 
Spirit }  when  the  Multitude  of  them  that  believed  \vefe 

B  of 


6  The  Unfpeakable  Gift* 

of  one  Heart  and  Soul  ;  neither  faid  any  of  them,  that 
ought  of  the  things  they  poflefled  were  their  own,  but 
they  had  all  things  common,  Acts  iv.  ult.  An  extraordinary 
Spirit  of  Love,  at  an  extraordinary  Time  and  Occafion  ! 
a  wonderful  Effbfion  of  the  HOLY  GHOST,  from  the 
late  crucified  and  attended  JESUS.  The  like  therefore 
has  not  been  known  in  ordinary  Times,  nor  is  it  the 
Jtanding  Exercife  of  the  Spirit  in  the  fandtified.  But 
the  Want  of  what  fliould  be  common  among  Chriftians  at 
all  Times,  is  a  fad  and  dark  Teftimony  of  the  Poverty 
of  Grace  ;  for  there  certainly  are  among  us  People  of 
high  Profeffion,  who  have  no  Heart  to  do  almoft  any 
thing  at  all,  in  a  way  of  Dijlribution  to  the  Poor,  or  for 
pious  Ufes  ;  no  not  a  known  Inftance  for  Years 
together  ;  while  God  is  liberally  giving'  to  them, 
and  they  can  lay  up  and  lay  out  and  make  Purchafes  ! 
but  if  you  fpeak  of  giving,  they  hide  them f elves  from 
their  own  Flejh,  even  tho'  they  be  efteemed  Members  of 
Cbrifi  alfo. 

Let  us  always  fee  to  it,  that  our  Principle  and  End  be 
right  before  God,  genuine  and  truly  Chrijtian  ;  that 
neither  Vanity,  Affectation  or  Oftentation,  nor  yet  meer 
Humanity  and  good  Nature,  be  pafs'd  on  God  for  gra- 
cious Charity,  on  Whom  it  cannot  ;  nor  yet  on  Men, 
nor  on  our  felves,  which  alfo  is  next  to  impoflible  under 
our  Illuminations  by  the  Gofpel.  Wherefore  our  Lord, 
according  to  the  infinite  Wifdom  and  Sandtity  of  God 
in  Him,  has  warned  us  to  take  heed  how  we  do  our  Alms, 
fell:  we  have  no  Reward  from  our  Father  in  Heaven, 
Matth.  vi. 

II.  I  am  now  to  fhow,  that. this  Evangelical  Chriftian 
charitable  Frame  of  Spirit  is  an  Unfpeakable  Gift  of  God. 

And  here, 

i.  Literally  true  it  is,  that  no  Tongue  of  Man  can 
duely  fpeak  of  it,  or  enough  praife  and  celebrate  it.  It 
is  above  all  our  Thoughts  and  Words,  we  can  neither 
think  or  fpeak  of  it  as  it  merits.  Such  is  every  IVork  and 
Gift  of  God  in  the  Kingdom  of  Nature  and  Providence. 

"  See 


Unfpeakalle  Gift.  7 

<c  See  thatthou  magnify  thefe  vifible  Works,  which  Eyes 
of  Fie  fly  behold.  u  His  Work  is  honourable  and  glorious, 
and  his  Praife  enduretb  for  Ever.  How  much  more  his 
Spiritual  Work,  the  ift  by  Grace  within  thy  Self  and 
Others.  The  Angels  of  God  pry  filently  into  this,  and 
we  need  tteir  Eyes  and  Tongues  to  look  in- o  it  and 
fpeak  of  it.  u  Blefs  the  Lord  ye  his  Angels  that  excel 
in  Strength  !  and  "  awake  up  our  Glory  too,  though 
we  be  but  Babes  and  Sucklings  in  companion  of  Them  ^ 
for  from  our  Mind  and  Mouth  God  has  ordained 
Strength.- — We  lifp  and  ftammer  at  a  proper  Word,  and 
poorly  apprehend  many  of  the  Great  Words  put  into 
oar  Mouth.  u  Let  Him  teach  us  what  we  fhall  fay  ! 
and  fhall  it  be  told  Him  that  we  fpeak  !  who  can  utter 
his  migh  y  Acts,  or  Ihew  forth  all  his  Praife  !  — Ac- 
cordingly the  Apoitle  labours  in  my  Context,  to  fpeak  of 
the  Gift  of  God  ;  feems  at  a  lofs,  fpeaks  abundantly, 
over  and  over,  and  knows  not  when  he  has  faid  enough 
of  the  excellent  Grace  :  "  lunched,  fays  he,  in  every 
'•  thing,  to  all  Bountifulnefs,  which  is  abundant  by  many 
"  Tiiankfgivings  to  God,  from  thofe  that  long  after 
"  you  for  the  exceeding  Grace  of  God  in  you."—-  If  a 
Man  wou'd  ipeak  of  a  thing  unspeakable,  it  muft  be  juft 
after  this  manner  ;  it  being  literally  true,  that  no  Tongue 
Of  Man  can  fully  fpeak  the  Praifes  of  Chriftian 
Charity. 

2.  Unfpeakable  is  the  Good  done  in  the  World  by  a 

right  charitable  Frame  of  Spirit.     Unfpeakable  are  the 

Needs  which  Sin  has  brought  upon  us,  not  only  on  the 

foor  and  low  of  the  World,  but  alfo  on  others,  even 

on  the  richeft  and  higheft.     We  unfpeakably  need  one 

anothers    Help  and  Service,  and  unfpeakable    are  the 

Benefits  we  receive  from  others  in  our  Neceffities.    The 

poor  fervethe  rich  abundantly,  more  erpeciaily  in  their 

Sicknejjes  ;  and  very  often  do  it  gratis,  for  nothing,  out 

of  pure  Humanity,  Refpe<ft  and  Companion,  and  are 

never  requited  :     Sometimes  from  Gratitude  for  Favours 

received,  and  as  often  (I  would  wiih)  from  a  Principle  of 

'Grace  within  them,  it  being  all  the  Way  they  have  to 

exprefs  a  pious  Love  to  God  &  their  Neighbours.-Others 

to  whom  God  has  given  Riches,  and  Largenefs  of  Heart 

B  2  to 


3  ?be  Unfpeakable  Gift. 

to  do  Good  with  it,  give  Portions  to  the  Poor  by  fevens 
and  eights,  and  by  fcores  and  hundreds  ;  dsvijtng  li- 
beral things,  and  cafting  their  Bread  upon  the  Waters. 
"  The  Bowels  of  the  poor  are  refrefhed  by  them,  they 
cc  are  Eyes  to  the  blind  and  Feet  to  the  lame,  Parents  to 
"  the  Fatherlefs,  and  they  caufe  the  Widow's  Heart  to 
"  fing  ;  the  Bleffing  of  them  that  are  ready  to  perijh 
"  comes  on  them,  and  of  him  that  is  helplefs.  They 
are  as  the  Heat  and  Rain  to  a  thirfty  and  cold  Earth,  as 
the  Light  of  the  Morning  and  the  Dews  of  the  Even- 
ing to  thofe  among  whom  they  dwell,  who  pafs  their 
Days  anl  Nights  the  better  for  their  Neighbourhood. 
cc  Their  Giory  isfre/h  in  them,  and  their  Bow  is  re- 
"  newed  in  their  Hand/'  They  live  not  to  nemfelves, 
bat  others  glean  by  handfuls  of  what  they  plentifully 
i'owe.  God  multiply  their  Seed  Town,  and  increafe  the 
Fruits  of  their  Righteoufnefs  ;  while  the  Loyns  of  the 
Poor  blefs  them,  warm'd  with  the  Fleece  of  their  FJoclc 
Thefe  are  the  Men  of  whom  we  ihall  hear  well  another 
Day,  but  how  will  they  be  able  to  bear  the  Joy  of  the 
blefled  Words  !  "  I  was  hungry  and  ye  gave  me  Meat? 
"  thirfty  and  ye  gave  me  Drink,  naked  and  ye  clothed  me, 
"  a  Stranger  and  ye  took  me  in  ".  Unfpeakable  (you  fee) 
is  the  Good  done  in  this  needy  World,  and  Heaven  ac- 
knowleges  it  to  be  fo,  and  accordingly  rates  the  Gift  in 
the  Book  of  Account. 

3.  Unfpeakable  is  the  Glory  redounding  to  Gop  from 
3  right  Chriftian  charitable  Frame  of  Spirit,  in  the  noble 
humble  Exercife  of  it  thro'  the  Earth,  and  therefore  is  it 
an  Unfpeakable  Gift.  This  is  a  Reajon  or  Argument  that 
rifes  much  higher  than  the  former  ;  for  if  it  be  a  good 
and  great  Thing  to  do  much  Good  to  our  Fellow-Crea- 
tures, how  much  more  is  it  to  be  any  Ways  Inftrumen- 
tal  in  any  Glory  and  Honour  to  the  Name  of  GOD  ?  Yet 
HE  is  glorified  (fays  my  Context)  by  Others,  on  the 
Account  of  the  Ads  of  Bounty  done  them  by  their  mer-- 
ciful  Neighbour. 


The  Grent  and  bountiful  God  makes  much,  makes  the 

As 
were 
a 


A  juv-  VJJLV..IL  auu    uuuuuiui  *jo'«  iiidKca  rnuifj,  iiiaivv 

in^ft  of  our  little  Alms  and  Offerings  to  Him   : 
9'4r  Saviour  did  of  the  Widow's  two  Mites  •,  tjiey 


7he  Unfpeakable  Gift.  9 

a  rich  Offering  in  his  Eye,  and  he  magnify 'd  it  and  her. 
So  God  Jhines  on  his  own  Works  wrought  in  us  and  by 
us,  and  puts  great  Honour  on  'em,  makes  great  Account 
of  'em.  And  fo  in  the  laft  Day  he  will  glorify  Himfelf 
in  glorifying  his  ElecJ,  "  In  as  much  as  ye  lave  done  it 
<<•  to  the  leaft  of  tbefe  my  Brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto 
"  me. 

We  are  bid  to  "  let  our  Lights  Jhine  before  Men, 
"  that  they  feeing  our  good  Works  may  glorify  our  Fa- 
"  ther  which  is  in  Heaven.  The  liberal  Man  does  fo, 
but  not  to  be  leen  of  Men.  There  is  that  is  manifeft^ 
and  cannot  be  bid.  Men  do  not  light  a  Candle  and  put 
it  under  a  Bufiel  A  good  Mnn  blefles  God  for  the 
Light  that  fliines  on  others,  as  well  as  on  Himfelf.  If 
one  is  inriched  to  all  Bountifulnefs,  it  caufes  in  others 
Thankigiving  to  God  ;  yea  is  abundant  by  many  Thankf- 

tivings  to  Him,  fays  my  Context:    "  They  glorify  God 
)r  your  profefled  Subjection  to  the  Gofpel,  and  fray 
unto  God  for  you. 

/ 

Now  the  leaft  Glory  to  God  is  an  unspeakable  thing. 
What  is  Man,  and  what  the  World  he  lives  in,  and 
what  the  Riches  thereof,  and  you  will  fay  what  the^wor 
of  it,  that  GOD  fliould  have  Glory  from  them  !  "  Be- 
hold He  putteth  no  Truft  in  his  Saints,  and  the  Heavens 
are  not  clean  in  his  Sight !  how  much  lefs  Man  that  is  a. 
Worm  !  What  then  can  Man  think  or  fpeak  of,  ask  or 
pray  for,  like  to  this!  father  in  Heaven ,  tby  Name  be 
hallowed ! —  for  Thine  is  the  Kingdom  and  Power  and 
Glory  for  ever  !  Well  is  it  made  the  Alpha  and  Omega^ 
the  firft  and  the  laft,  in  our  Prayers.  It  muft  be  the 
everiafting  Law  and  Motive  to  us,  refpeding  giving 
and  receiving  ;  r  Peter  iv.  ir.  If  any  Manminifter^  of 
tie  Ability  which  God  giveth^  that  God  in  all  things  may 
be  glorified  through  Jefus  Chrjft  ;  to  whom  be  Praife  and 
Dominion  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 

4-  The  Good  to  our  felves  is  unfpeakable,  in  a  liberal 
and  bountiful  Spirit,  and  therefore  it  is  an  unfpeakable 
Gift  to  us  and  in  us.  Unfpeakable  is  iheprefent  Comfort 

to 


jo  tte  Unfpeakable  Gift. 

to  a  good  Man  by  this  Gift,  and  unfpeakable  is  the 
future  and  eternal  Reward  of  it  in  the  Life  to  come. 

i.  If  we  confider  only  the  Pleafure  and  Comfort  of  it 
to  a  Man  in  tits  Life,  to  be  of  a  merciful  and  bountiful 
Eye?  it  is  to  him  an  unfpeakable  Gift.  He  is  fatisfied  in 
Himfelf,  God  anfwers  him  in  the  Joy  of  bis  Heart.  The 
greateil  Pleafure  of  Life  is  to  be  good  and  do  good.  The 
"Words  of  our  Lord  Jefus  are  to  be  had  in  everlafting 
Remembrance,  "  It  ismoreblejfedtog've  tban  to  receive, 
The  Man's  State  and  frame  is  more  blefled  ;  unlefs  it 
be  when  the  poor  Man  exceeds  in  Grace,  in  the  manner 
of  his  receiving  ;  and  then  the  Tide  turns  on  his  Side. 

Job  tells  us  the  Pleafure  he  found  in  Acts  of  Munifi- 
'fence  in  the  Days  of  his  Proiperity  ;  and  it  was  unfpeak- 
able :  "  When  the  Ear  heard  me,  it  blejfed  me  !  when 
"  the  Eye  faw  me  it  gave  wjtnefs  to  me  !  then  faid  I, 
cc  I  mall  die  in  my  Nefi,  or  multiply  my  Days  as  the  Sand  ! 
"  my  Root  wzs/pread  out  by  the  Waters,  and  the  Dew 
u  lay  all  Night  upon  my  Branch  !  my  Glory  was  frefh 
*  in  me,  and  my  Biw  was  renewed  in  my  Hand  !  they 
*c  waited  for  me  as  for  the  Rain,  and  opened  their 
•4t  Mouth  wide  as  for  the  latter  Rain  !  I  chofe  out  their 
•**  Way  and  fat  Chief,  and  dwelt  as  a  King  in  his  Army ; 
•<•*  as  QJIS  that  comforteth  the  Mourners." 

5?i \\  \     .  «'•   V'  ^^      Vs'    *'"••'  '••'$    \* \  W*   "  -»"»V» 

Ev«n  all  the  bitter  Sorrows  of  Job  could  not  take  away 
the  Comfort  of  the  Remembrance  of  \i\spaf  Joys  in  Ad? 
of" 'Charity  &  Mercy,  "^(faid  he)  Ihadwitb-beld  the  poor 
from  his  Defire,  "~>  O  the  Pleafure  of  yeilding  them  their 
Dejire,  when  it  is  pious  and  juft,  and  the  Power  be  in  our 
Hand,  and  our  Heart  be  big  enough  ; — or"  if  I  caufed 
"  the  Eyes  of  the  Fndow  to  fail !  If  /  eat  my  Morfel 
"  aisne,  and  the  Fatherlefs  did  not  ftiare  with  me  !  for 
"  from  my  Tuuth  I  was  his  Father*  and  Widow's  Guide.  '* 
— I  tell  you,  that  as  the  Heart  knows  its  own  Bitternefsy 
fo  only  the  Heart  of  a  Job  knows  the  Comfort  of  a  Con- 
fcioufnefs  of  fuch  a  Frarm  and  Exercife,  as  this  which 
his  own  Words  have  fpok.en,and  who  can  add  to  them  * 
How  did  all  the  Good  he  had  ever  done  to  the  Poor  re- 
turn into  his  own  Bofomy  andjftw  out  of  his  Lips  from 

the 


•,tte  Unfpeakable  Gift.  rr 

the  Abundance  in  his  Heart  !  The  Gbje&s  of  Charity 
were  always  to  him  as  his  own  Bowels,  and  how  were  his 
Bowels  refrejh'd  hereby,  at  the  Time  and  long  after. 
He  felt  the  ruling  Power  of  Grace,  and  had  Confidence 
toward  God.  The  Joy  of  Faith  and  Hope  accompanied 
and  follow'd  the  Exercife  of  Love  and  brotherly  Kind- 
nefs. 

2,  But  the  Great  and  laft,  the  infinite  and  eternal  Re* 
wards  of  Grace,  to  the  charitable  and  godly  Man,  are 
in  the  BlefTednefs  and  Glories  of  the  World  to  come,  and 
thefe  render  the  Gift  of  Grace  to  him  and  in  him  «»- 
fpeakable.  "  Eye  has  not  feen  this,  nor  Ear  heard  it, 
"  nor  can  it  enter  into  our  Hearts  to  conceive  of  it. 
"  When  the  Son  of  Man  {hall  come  in  his  Glory,  and 
"  fafhion  his  E/^?and  Merciful  Ones  after  Hi  cwnglori- 
"  ous  Body,  and  fay  to  'em  in  the  Hearing  of  all  hisboly 
"  Angels,- — "  Come  ye  bleffed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the 
"  Kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  Foundation  of  the 
"  Wor'd  !  for  1  was  hungry  and  ye  gave  me  Meat,  &c. 
—  O  with  what  Rapture  will  they  make  the  humble  An- 
fwer,  "  Lord,  when  faw  we  thee  hungry  and  fed  thee,  or 
tbirftyznd  gave  thee  Drink  ?- — The  Day  muft  reveal  it, 
what  the  Joy  of  the  Lord  and  of  his  Members  will  then 
be  !  then  they  ihall  be  recompenc'd,  at  the  Refurreflion 
of  the  Juft.  It  is  worth  waiting  for  the  Joys  of  that 
blefled  Day,  which  will  be  given  \nfultMezfure,prejffed 
down  and  running  over.  "  Then  he  that  has  fown  boun- 
"  tifully  Ihall  reap  bountifully  :  Then  not  a  Cup  of 
"  Water  given  as  to  a  Difciple  of  Chrift  fhall  be  for- 
"  gotten.  The  Rewards  of  free  Grace  will  be  found 
"  nothing  lefs  than  a  Crown  and  Kingdom,  a  Crown  of 
Glory  eternal  in  the  Heavens.  How  unknown,  unjpeak- 
able,  unfearchable  is  this  !  it  is  high  as  Heaven^  what 
can'ft  thou  know?  Infinite  as  GOD  Himfelf,  who  is  thy 
SHIELD  and  exceeding  great  Reward;  O  Seed  of  ge- 
nerous Abraham !  It  is  afar  exceeding  and  eternal  Weight 
of  Glory.-— We  find  and  fee  many  temporal  things  un- 
fearchable, how  much  more  thofe  that  are  uxfeen  and 
cternaL  Wherefore, 

'm^^^M     :*^>;^^ 

III.  The 


12  'The  Unspeakable  Gift. 

III.  The  fagheft  Thankfgivings  are  due  from  us  to  thef 
lleffed,  God,  for  this  his  unspeakable  Gift  to  any  of  the 
Children  of  Men  ;  and  mould  be  fervently  render 'd 
to  Him  in  the  Churches  of  his  Saints.  "  Thanks  be  to 
God  for  his  unfpeakable  Gift. 

But  (as  was  faid  before  )  what  Thanks  can  we  ren- 
der, when  the  Gift  is  unfpeakable?  O  'tis  above  all 
our  Praifes  and  Bleffings  !  Yet  as  the  Levites  faid  to 
the  Auguft  Congregation,  Nehem  ix.  5.  "  Stand  up 
and  blefs  the  Lord  your  God  for  ever  and  ever  !  and  blejf- 
ed  be  thy  glorious  Name  which  is  exalted  above  all 
Praife. 

I  fhall  only  fay  two  Things  here", 

i.  They  that  receive  the  Gift  mould  be  very  thank- 
ful to  God  for  it.  The  charitable  Perfon  fliould  him- 
ielf  give  Thanks  to  God  for  making  him  fo,  while  yet 
he  abafes  himfelf  before  the  Lord,  as  an  unprofitable 
Creature,  and  behaves  humble  and  lowly  before  Men. 
Yet  ought  he  to  glorify  God  for  any  Heart  to  do  good, 
and  for  any  Means  to  do  it.  He  mud  affume  nothing  to 
'himfelf-)  but  afcribe  all  to  God  -,  of  Whom  and  to  Whom 
are  all  things.  "  For  what  haft  thou  which  is  not  receiv- 
ed ?  and  if  received,  whereof  haft  thou  to  glory  ?  The 
Glory  belongs  to  Him  who  has  given  to  thee,  that  thou 
may 'ft  give  to  others.  As,  fuppofe  a  rich  and  charitable 
Perfon  puts  into  my  Hand  a  Sum  or  Sums  of  Money  to 
diftribute  unto  others  in  Want ;  it  is  his  Gift  and  Bounty, 
and  not  mine ;  and  /  ought  to  be  thankful  to  Him  to- 
gether with  thofe  to  whom  I  diftribute.  In  like  man- 
ner if  GOD  give  Tou  Ability  and  a  Heart  to  do  good  ta 
others,  you  owe  the^r/?  Thanks  to  God,  and  ihou'dbe 
ready  to  fay  with  the  Church,  "  Not  unto  us,  0  Lord,  not 
to  us,  but  to  thy  Name  be  Glory. 

.  Ton,  my  Brethren !  that  are  honoured  of  God  to  give 
unto  the  poor,  might  have  been  your  felves,  and  fo  your 
Families,  among  the  indigent  and  neceflltous  !  You  might 
have  been  Receivers  of  the  Charities  of  others,  the  Ob- 
jedts  of  their  Compaffion, 

Of 


UrifpeakaMe  Gift.  13 

Or  yet  worfe,  You  might  have  been  among  the  nig- 
gardly and  covetous  in  the  midft  of  Riches ;  not  able  to 
eat  of  your  own  Bread,  and  lefs  to  give  unto  others  ! 
An  Evil  too  often  feen  and  felt,  aMifery  too  common 
under  the  Sun,  which  yetfhines  liberally  on  the  niggard 
Soul. 

Or  ftill  worfe,  You  might  have  been  among  \kz  frau- 
dulent and  unjuft,  the  Cheat,  the  Theif  and  the  Robber  ; 
or  (which  is  little  better)  the  Gripe  andtheExtortioner^ 
the  Spoiler  of  the  Widow,  t;  e  motherlefs  and  fatherlefs ! 
But  who  has  made  you  to  differ  ?  made  Thee  a  Bene~ 
fatter  and  Bleffing  to  the  World,  among  thefe  Plagues 
and  Curfes  in  it  ?  GOD,  who  is  rich  in  Mercy,  and  So- 
•uere'gn  in  his  Gifts  and  Grace  to  Men,  He  has  done  it ! 
"  Who  has  Mercy  becaufe  he  will  have  Mercy.  H£ 
that  made  Abel  Cain's  Brother,  and  gave  to  Abraham  and 
Job  and  Mofes  their  Grandeur  of  Heart,  '  ;;& 

Let  free  Grace  therefore  have  all  the  Glcry  ;  as  the 
Apoftle  teaches  us,  Ephef  3.  18.  To  me,  who  am  lefs  that* 
the  leafl  of  all  Saints  is  this  Grace  given.  So  thou  "  by 
"  the  Grace  of  God  art  what  thou  art,  dhd  his  Gfiice 
"  given  thee  has  not  been  in  vain  !  And  if  you  labour 
"  more  than  others,  yet  not  you,  but  the  Grace  of  God 
"  in  You.- — So  when  David  had  done  a  kingly  part$ 
and  his  Princes  a  very  princely  one,  in  way  of  Offer- 
ings out  of  their  Eftates  ;  then  David  faid  before  the? 
Lord,  i  Chfon.  xxix.  14.  "  But  who  am  I  0  Lord  God? 
u  and  what  is  my  People,  that  we  Jhould  be  able  to  offer 
"  fo  willingly  after  this  fort  !  for  all  things  come  of  SrW 
"  and  of  thy  own  have  we  given  thee. —  Thus  they  that 
receive  the  Gift)  fliould  give  Thanks  for  it. 

a.  Others,  but  efpecially  the  poor  and  needy,  they 
Ihould  be  very  thankful  to  God.  The  Charitable  afg 
God's  Gifts  to  Men,  even  to  the  rebellious  $  (  and  indeed 
fuch  themfelves  among  their  Brethren  )  that  the  Lord 
God  might  dwell  among  us;  I  rhay  lawfully  transfer  thefe 
Words  from  Minifters  in  the  Church;  to  the  liberal 
irt  the  Flceks  5  for  it  is  the  fame  God  and  the  fame  Grac£ 
that  forms  both  the  one  and  the  other"*  td  ferte  the 

G  faedi 


U  Tae  Urfpeakalle  Gift. 

Nseds  of  Souls  and  Bodies.  "  We  do  you  to  wit  there- 
fore of  the  Grace  of  God  beftowed  on  the  Churches,  in 
both.  The  fame  Holy  Spirit  that  defcended  on  the 
jApnJHes  in  Tongues  of  Fire,  came  down  on  the  Multi- 
tude of  Bel'tewi*  at  that  memorable  Time,  and  they  had 
all  things  common.  And  now  the  ordinary  Gifts  of  your 
JVffarfan  for  the  Service  of  your  Souls,  and  the  ordinary 
Spirit  of  Charity  in  our  Churcher,  are  from  the  fame 
Fulnefs,  of  Cbrijt  ;  of  Whom  all  do  receive  and  Grace 
upon  Grace.  He  puts  the  earnefl  Care  for  Soul  and 
Body  into  the  one  and  other  ;  whether  it  be  Titus  or 
doing  faithfully  for  the  Brethren  or  Strangers. 


The  Gifts  and  Graces  of  others,  and  the  Ufe  God 
p'eafes  to  make  of  them,  fhould  ^  plea  f  ant  to  us  and 
admired  by  us;  and  we  fhould  rejoice  in  all  that  we  fee 
of  God  in  them.  We  fhould  prize  the  good  Examples 
they  give  us,  give  God  the  Glory  of  them,  and  be  ex- 
cited to  a  holy  Imitation.  I.  Thefr  iii.  9.  For  what 
'Thanks  can  we  render  unto  God  for  you  ?  for  all  the  Joy 
wherewith  we  jcy  before  our  God  for  your  fakes. 


The  poor  efpecially  fhould  be  very  thankful  to 
for  his  unfpeakable  Gift  to  them,  in  all  the  Charities  of 
the  rich  and  bountiful.  They  fhould  religioufly  accept 
the  Gift  of  Heaven  in  thcfe  whom  they  muft  call  their 
Benefatfors.  They  fliould  look  thro*  and  above  Men  un- 
to God,  who  gives  by  their  Hands.  They  muft  no  more 
idolise  Men,  than  they  would  bow  down  to  an  Image  oi 
Wood  or  Gold  ;  no  more  than  they  would  kifs  'the 
Calves,  or  their  Hand  to  the  Sun  or  Muon  in  their  Bright- 
nefs  ;  for  this  were  to  deny  the  mofl  high  and  firfl  Be- 
nefa&or.  "  Way  look  ye  fo  earnefily  at  us  ?  faid  Peter 
and  John  to  r.e  wondring  and  almoft  worshipping  Peo- 
ple at  the  Gate  of  the  Temple,  when  they  had  in  the 
Name  of  Jefus  given  more  than  Silver  or  Gold  to  the 
Cripple,  even  Feet  to  walk  and  leap.  What  is  a  boun- 
tiful Donor  to  us,  but  a  Steward  and  Almoner  of  God, 
his  kind  and  open  Hand  !  Who  fhalJ  have  the  Praife? 
the  King  that  orders  his  Medals  to  be  ftrowed  among  the 
Crowd,  or  the  Servitor  that  fcatters  'em  at  his  Com- 
mand ?  Jacob  faw  the  Face  of  God  in  Efau's  Affection, 

when 


Tie  Unfpeakalle  Gift.  i£ 

when  he  ran  with  open  Arms  and  Eyes  full  of  Tears  to 
embrace  him.  So  let  the  poor  fee  the  Face  and  Hand 
of  God,  in  all  the  Heart  and  Care  of  others  for  them. 
They  are  what  God  makes  'em,  and  he  has  made  'em 
fuch  for  you. 

God  knows  the  irreligious  poor,  ungrateful  to  Him, 
unthankful  and  unholy,  who  receive  and  eat  and  give  him 
not  Thanks.  It  may  be  they  bow  to  Men,  and  treble 
their  Thanks  to  them  and  blefs  'em,  and  yet  do  not  lift 
their  Hearts  at  all  to  God.  It  may  be  they  neither  pray 
for  themfelves  or  others  in  fecret,  altho'  their  Depen- 
dence is  fo  great  on  Providence  and  its  Inltruments  ;  nor 
do  they  blefs  '^od  when  he  fends  'em  in  Supplies  —  God 
value'  the  Thanks  of  the  Poor  as  much  as  of  the  Rich, 
and  they  as  much  owe  it  to  Him.  Let  'em  ie?rn  the  Song 
of  Hannah,  and  fing  it  with  her  gracious  Spirit,  i  Sam. 
3.  init  "  My  Heart  rejoices  in  the  Lord,  my  Horn  is  ex- 
alted in  the  Lord  :  lie  maketh  poor  and  maketh  rich  ; 
the  hungry  ccafe,and  the  rich  have  hired  out  tbewfilves  for 
Bread. 

Having  thus  at  large  conflder'd  the  nnfpeakable  Gift 
of  God,  in  a  right  charitable  Frame  of  Spirit,  and  the 
ffhankfgiving  and  Praife  due  from  us  unto  God  therefor, 
I  might  naturally  go  into  a  large  Ccmpafs  of  Meditation 
<>n  ether  the  unfpeakable  Gifrsof  God  to  us,  all  of  which 
are  more  or  lefs  related  unto  this  that  I  have  been  fpeak- 
ing  of ;  and  it  may  be  I  could  not  well  go  into  a  more 
proper  and  profitable  Application  of  the  SubjetJ. 

As, 

r.  Look  we  within  eur  fek-es,  into  our  own  Souls  and 
Bodies,  fram'd  as  they  are  for  Thankfgiving  to  God,  and 
for  all  Offices  of  Humanity  and  Chanty  to  our  Nei'bours ; 
what  a  Gift  of  God  is  this  Mind  and  Heart,  and  thefe 
Eyes  and  Hands  ;  firft  to  lift  up  to  God,  and  then  to  look 
and  reach  out  to  bis  poor  !  this  focial  Nature  for  wor- 
jfhippingand  communicating  !  In  every  Relation  and  in 
all  Offices  of  Human  U\te,publick  and  private,  wherein 
God  has  plac'd  us  to  ferve  *\\&  blefs  one  another  ;  what 
Gifts  of  God  unfpeakable  ought  every  One  to  be  unto 

C  z  his 


1(5  The  Unfpeakable  Gift. 

his  Correlate  and  therein  to  the  Community  !  from  the 
Confort,  Parent  and  Child,  up  to  theKing  on.  theThrone  -, 
and  down  again  from  all  that  rule  urukr  Him,  to  the 
low  eft  Subject  in  the  State  !-— What  a  wide  Compafs  of 
unfpeakable  Bleffings  wou'd  every  Perfon,  in  every  Or- 
der, prefent  us  with  ?  all  under  the  Law  ofKitid/i.f.&nd 
all  their  Things  done  with  Guarity. 

2.  W:iatai  unfpeakable  Gift  therefore  is  a  good  G<?- 

Jj  ^  D 

vernmcnt,  good  JVJagiftrates,  wife,  pious,  faithful,  pub- 
lic-fpirited  Rulers  ;  great  and  good  Kings^  Princes,  No- 
bles, Governours,  Legiflators,  and  Judges  :  Whom  we 
are  bid  to  pray  for,  and  are  bound  to  give  Thanks  for  ; 
while  under  them  we  are  living  quiet  and  peaceable 
Lives,  in  allGodlinefs  and  Honefty.  2  Sam.  xxiii.  i, — 4. 
He  (hall  be  a^  the  Light  of  the  Morning  when  the  Sun 
arijetb,  even  a  Morning  without  Clouds  •>  and  as  the  ten- 
der Grafs  fpringing  out  of  the  Earth  by  clear  Jhining 
after  Rain.  Such  Gifts  from  Heaven  were  Mofes  and 
Jojbua,  Samuel  and  David?  Hezekiah  and  Nehemiah  to 
the  Ifraelot  God,  in  their  Generation. 

3.  What  an  unspeakable  Gift  of  God  to  us  is  our 
Church-State j  our  'fpi ritual  Relation  in  Chrift,  our  Fel- 
lowjhip  in  the  Gofpel,    our  Brotherhood^  the    Vocation 
wherewith  we  are  called  !    to  be  a  fpiritual  Houfe,  a 
Kixg  'om  of  PrieJlSi  ncbcfen  Generation^  a.  peculiar  People 
and  Treafare^  to  Ihew  forth  the  Praif.s  of  our  God  and 
Saviour.     Your  Sabbaths^  the  preached  Gofpel,  the  Or- 
dinances of  our  God,  a tid   the  Minjfters  of  Religion  ; 
the'e  are  among  the  Gifts  from  the  Afc ended  Jefus.    As 
it  is  written,  — "I  gave  them  my  Sabbaths  for  a  Sign 
"  between  Me  and  them  that  I  am  the  Lord  that  doth 
*c  fantfify  them  (  g  )  :    He  gave  his  ft 'ord  unto  Jacob, 
**  his  Statutes  sod  Judgments  untj  Ifrael^  He  has  not 
"  done  fo  by  many  a  People  :  He  gave  Prophets,  Apo- 
^  ftles,  Evangelifts,  Paftors  and  Teachers,  for  the  per- 
f  felting  of  the  Saints,  for  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry, 


(g  )  Ezek.xx.  12.    Pfal.  cxjlvii.  ip.    Eph.  iv.  8,  ir, 
j  Ccr.  iv.  .7. 

<{  for 


The  Unfpeakalle  Gift.  17 

«  for  the  Edifying  the  Body  of  Chrift.  Enoch,  Mofes 
and  Aaron,  Elijah  and  EHJha,  Peter  and  John  and  Paul, 
and  many  after  them,  in  their  Spirit,  have  been  inva- 
luable Gifts  to  the  Church  ;  a  Treafure  in  Earthen  Fejp/s, 
that  the  Excellency  of  the  Power  may  be  of  God  and  not  of 
Man.  Nor  have  there  been  wanting  in  the  Churches  of 
Chrift,  nor  ever  mail  be,fuch  Gifts  from  among  their  gra- 
c  ious  Members,  to  and  of  whom  we  may  take  up  the  //- 
liiflrious  Words  of  the  Apofile  to  the  Philippians  and  the 
Thefjhlonians,  in  ourThankfgivings  to  God  (h) :  "  I  thank 
"  my  God  upon  every  Remembrance  of  you,  for  your 
"  Fellowjhip  in  the  Gofpel  !  and  we  give  Thanks  always 
"  for  you  all,  remembring  without  ceafing  your  Workef 
"  Faith,  and  Labour  of  Love^  and  Patience  of  Hope  in 
."  our  Ij>rd  Jefus  Chrift  ;  and  ye  became  followers  of  us 
u  and  of  the  Lord,  having  received  the  Word  with  much 
"  Affliction  and  Joy  in  the  Holy  Ghofl  ;  becaufe  your 
"  Faith  groweth  exceedingly,  and  your  Charity  one  to 
"  another  aboundeth  ;  fo  that  we  glory  in  You  in  the 
"  Churches  of  God  for  your  Patience  and  Faith.  Thus 
the  meaneft  and  poorejl,  on  worldly  Accounts,  in  the  vi~ 
ftble  Church,  became  unfpeakable  Gifts  of  Grace  to 
*it ;  and  will  be  found  fo  in  the  Church  of  the  Firft-born, 
whole  Names  are  written  in  Heaven.  < 

But  to  leave  all  things  herefo/co/,  and  to  afcend  up 
far  above  all  Heavens^   I  add 

4.  and  laftly,  The  unfpeakable  Gift  of  CHRIST  and 
of  the  HOLY  SPIRIT,  the  Saviour  and  SancJijier  of 
Souls  ;  which  two  are  one-,  equal  in  Godhead  and  Glory, 
Here  triumph  with  me,  my  Hearers,  in  the  adoring 
Contemplation  of  the  ineffable  Gift  of  God,  his  own 
Eternal  Son^  the  Only-begotten  of  the  Father ',  whofe  Glory 
was  beheld  in  his  Miracles  of  Mercy  to  the  Bodies  of 
Men,  but  more  in  his  Companions  to  their  Souls  ;  his 
holy  Miniftry,  Labour ^and  Suffering*  for  their  Salvation  ; 
to  fave  our  Souls  from  fpiritual  ani  eternal  De^ztb^  to 
cover  a  multitude  of  Sins,  to  make  Reconciliation  for 


,  3,    i.   ,  3.    2.   .  3. 

Iniquity, 


38  ne  Unfpeakable  Gift. 

Iniquity,  to  bring  in  an  Everlafting  Right eoufnefs  for  the 
Justification  of  Sinners.  The  crucified  Jefus  is  fuch  a 
a  Gift  of  God  to  the  Sons  of  Men,  as  infinitely  tran- 
fcends  the  Tongues  of  Angeh^  when  they  would  give 
Him  the  Glory  of  it.  They  defire  to  look  into  •  f,  and 
give  Glory  in  the  Higbejt.  The  Elders  with  them  pre- 
pare new  Songs  for  ever,  and  cafl  their  Crewns  before 
the  Tbrcse. 

How  then  fliall  the  Tongues  of  Men  below  be  able 
to  fpeak  of  the  Gift  of  God  to  us  in  the  Incarnation? 
Obedience,  Death?  Refur  region  and  Inter  cejfion  ot  CH  RI$T, 
or  of  his  Coming  again  in  Glory  for  the  Salvation  of 
thofe  that  believe  in  Him  !—  Here  all  Words  arefwaf- 
lowed  up?  we  are  ftruck  mute,  8r  Praife  fits  filent.  Ifai.  ix. 
(5.  To  us  a  Cbild  is  born,  to  us  a  Sen  is  given?  and  tbe 
Government  fit  all  be  upon  bis  Shoulder :  And  bis  Name 
/ball  be  called,  Wonderful,  Counfellor?  tbe  mighty  God? 
tbe  Evcrlajting  Father,  tbe  Prince  of  Peace  ! 

This,  this  (  my  Brethren  )  is  the  vnfpeakable  Gift  of 
God  unto  us,  to  be  in  in  Everlaftixg  Remembrance  with 
us  in  all  our  Worjbip  before  Him,  lecret,  private  and 
public  ; every  Lord's-Day  and  all  our  Com mun ion- Days: 
In  every  Ordinance  of  Worfhip  He  is  cjfer'd  to  us  for 
our  thankful  Acceptance,  to  be  of  God  made  unto  us 
Wifdoniy  Rigkteoufnefs,  Sanffif  cation  and  Redemption  ! 
and  we  muft  be  making  the  Offering  of  our  Selves  to 
Him,  as  bougbt  with  a  Price,  living  Sacrifices^  which  rs 
cur  reafonable  Service,  boly  and  acceptable  to  God.  Grace 
to  do  this,  is  an  unfpeakable  Gift  indeed. 

Therefore  we  muft  give  equal  Glory  to  the  HOLY 
GHOST,  yielding  our  Selves  to  Rim-,  as  the  blefled 
Ss*8ifieiti  proceeding  from  tbe  Father  and  tbe  Sen !  Ons 
•with ^  the  REDEEMER  in  Godbead  and  everlafling  Love 
to  Souls.  John  xiv.  id  The  Comfort er^  wbom  I  will 
fend  unto  Tuu  from  tbe  father^  He  Jhall  receive  cfMine 
*&nd  pew  it  unto  you* 

This  Heavenly  Gift  refted  on  Mofes  and  tie  Elder's* 
Patriarch  ^nd  Proffer i>  (andified  and  inipired  them. 

He 


Unfpeakable  Gift.  19 

He  has  formed  every  Saint  thro'  all  the  Ages  of  the 
Church.  But  the  grand  Effupon  was  the  Glory  of  the 
New  Tefament,  and  the  Promife  is  ftill  flowing  down  to 
us :  ifai.  xliv.  3.  "  I  will  pour  Water  upon  him  that  is 
"  thirfty,  and  Floods  upon  the  dry  Ground  ;  I  will  pour 
"  my  SPIRIT  upon  your  Seed-)  and  my  Blejfing  upon 
"  your  Offspring  :  And  one  fhall  fay  I  am  the  JLorcfs, 
•c  and  another  fa*\\  fubfcribe  with  his  Hand  to  the  Lord, 
gcc.  —  Souls  can  need  nor  ask  more,  drift  has  no 
more  to  offer  to  us.  John  vii.  37.  In  the  laft  and  great 
Day  of  the  Feaftjefusftood  and  cried,  faying,"  If  any  Man 
thirft,  let  him  come  unto  me  and  drink,  and  out  of  his  Belly 
fhall  flow  Rivers  ef  living  Water  :  This  fpake  He  of  the 
SPIRIT  which  they  that  believe  on  him  Jhall  receive. 

CHRIST  and  the  HOLY  GHOST  are  the  One,  infeper- 
able,  undivided,  infinite,  eternal,  and  therefore  unfpeak- 
able  Gift  of  GOD.  Let  us  wait  for  it  as  for  the  Rain, 
and  open  our  Mouth  wide  for  it  as  for  the  latter  Rain. 
God///  us  with  this  Kleffing  of  Bleffings.  Revel,  xxii.  17. 
<c  The  Spirit  and  the  Bride  fay,  Come  ;  and  let  him  that 
faareth  fay,  Come }  and  let  him  that  is  athirft  come ;  and 
whofower  will  let  him  take  of  the  Water  of ~  Life  freely. 


FINIS: 


. 


14  DAY  USE 

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